Diary2

Nov 30.00 - Cortisone Shots! Did a lot of errands today so my legs were pretty tired by the time I got to the OS, I also forgot my shorts so I had to roll my pants up, luckily they were baggy! Anyways, dreading the usual question "Well, how are you doing?" because I'm the same as always and it doesn't seem to matter. I'm able to last longer at work but I still have locking when doing my short arc sets and can't feel my VMO improving any. Well told him physically I don't feel an improvement, told him that when I do my quad exercises I feel a lot of pain/burning underneath the kneecap and my about the locking. He told me to bend my knee, and of course I made sure that I didn't use my hip, while I was bending the tracking went off a little and got caught. I repeated it several times and while he was holding my kneecap it really got stuck. Can't say how glad I am that it happened while I was in the office, that luck never happens for me! He asked if I was allergic to anything and next thing I know they are prepping me for a shot! He said that I had some adhesions in there that were causing some problems. Got the shot, really wasn't that bad, he's one of the best people I've had give me shots. Told me to ice and no therapy or home exercises besides work for the next week. Ice ice ice! I told him that I couldn't go to therapy anymore because of the insurance and he said that that was probably a good thing. As long as I do my exercises at home I should be good. He said maybe I'm all worn out of therapy and I need a break from it. I go back to the OS in 2 weeks to see if the shot helped. I was fine directly after the shot but now that a few hours have passed my chin and patella tendon area hurt. I am also having some cramping in my calf, not sure if that is because of the shot or all the walking. See if this helps, and now back to icing!

Dec 12.00 - 2nd MRI Was scheduled to have an appt with my OS this Friday, the 15th but yesterday I had such pain that I got an earlier appointment. Yesterday I had a lot of pain in my upper shin area and could hardly put pressure on my leg. Also, right above my knee cap my quad and VMO felt like it was cramping and then completely giving way when I tried to walk, after my muscle would contract it would feel like the kneecap was pinching it. Went to my OS today and told him what was going on, also told him I am still having a lot of dull pains shooting down my leg. He asked if the Cortisone shot had helped any and I told him I couldn't feel anything catching but I did suffer a lot of weakness the past week or so. So I really couldn't tell if the shot helped or not, he didn't mention it again, guess he figured if it wasn't obvious pointless to continue the injections. Next stop, X-rays! I couldn't really see any wrong with the X-rays, but what do I know! All my OS did was shake his head and forcefully and audibly write some things on my chart. In big letters the letters MRI. As I walked to schedule my appointment for the MRI my mother spoke with my OS. He said he wasn't sure what was going on, he is happy with my tracking but he's puzzled. Of course he isn't going to say anything until he knows something but his mannerisms have changed. When I walked past him later on he said "We're going to get this, I know you're getting frustrated, we're going to get whatever this is." I hoe so, I'm getting so frustrated, I can't walk normal anymore, I feel worse then ever. Told my OS that I have been using my crutches sometimes also. My leg is so weak I feel like I've got to drag it along. Besides the pain it almost feels dead to me. I know I could be worse off but it's just becoming to much for me, at least today. Geeting scared that something else could be wrong with my knee and I'm not near to recovering. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. Also on the schedule for tomorrow is the MRI and then one week from today I will meet with my OS.

Dec 19.00 - Schedule that 2nd Arthroscopy! So, MRI didn't show anything significant, just some scarring on the anterior side of the knee where he did my lateral release. Not sure if there are adhesions, which wouldn't be shown on the MRI, that are causing the problem or something else. Basically said only way to find out is to go back in which he is inclined to do since I'm having a lot of pain and swelling. I just looked at him and said I trusted him. (I was very tired this morning and didn't have a lot to say for once!) Was going to schedule the surgery after the new year but instead I'm having it in 9 days! So, having to shift my holiday plans around a little bit. Hopefully recovery time will be a little shorter so I don't miss much work. Hopefully this will make things better? I'm more nervous about this surgery then my last caase I don't have much time nor the patience to be cooped up in bed all day long anymore.

Dec 21.00 - Doing better? Ok so since I scheduled my second surgery I have hardly limped, think my knee knows what is coming? I thought maybe I had just started recovering because I haven't limped and there hasn't been much swelling. Well the minute I try to do a short arc type lift I started having pain in the front of my knee, patellar tendon area. Oh well, guess I'm going trough with it! Told my boss, he's hoping as much as I am that my recovery will be speedy.

Dec 27.00 - Night Before Well tidying up my room and going out for my "last supper." Saw the OS today, (kind of hid a cold, don't want him canceling the surgery) Told him that I can stand without so much pain but I still need to literally assist my knee when getting into a car, always having to pick it up to bend it! He felt my quads and said there was some improvement and that if I wanted I could wait 3 weeks and see how things go. I kind of hesitated, I don't want to go through this pain but I don't think I'm going to get better in 3 weeks. Plus the spring semester is coming up and I don't want the surgery during the term. So, we're going ahead with the surgery. Might as well get it over with. Still debating if I'm going to get general anesthesia or the epidurl, was told that I wouldn't be very coherent and clear minded to know exactly what was going on so I think I'm going to just get the general. I did fine with that last time and I want to know what to expect and have the quickest recovery time possible! Want to be back to work in a few days instead of 5 weeks like last time :) Until I can get back to my computer......